On April 17, his trial began. Supporters called it politically motivated. Navalny's a self-serving opportunist. He's tied to Western monied interests. He's a US imperial tool. More on that below.

On July 18, a Kirov court convicted him. It sentenced him to five years in prison. He was fined about $15,000. Pending appeal, he and co-defendent Pyotr Ofitserov were conditionally freed. They agreed not to leave Moscow.

Navalny was a volunteer aide to Kirovsk Region's governor. Allegedly he was involved in a dubious Kirovles deal. Substantial losses followed. So did bankruptcy.

Wiretap and witness testimony linked him and Ofitserov to fraud and embezzlement. They rewrote Kivovles supply contracts. They arraigned them through shell company VLK.

Perhaps if profits, not losses, resulted, charges wouldn't have followed. At the same time, evidence against both defendants is weak at best. Apparently enough to convict. Less than prosecutors wanted.

At most, he enjoys 10% Muscovite support. He gets about 5% nationwide. He calls charges against him politically motivated - a "boring joke," he said.

"There is no motive. There is no gain. The stated damages are taken out of nowhere."

"All most imported testimony against me has appeared to be false."

"The witness who testified me himself appears to be a member of my criminal syndicate."

He claimed inconsistencies taint charges against him. Whether true or false remains for others to determine. He had his day in court. He'll get a second chance on appeal.

He's a Moscow mayoral candidate. He said if convicted, he'll stand down. Despite charges against him, he can run if he wishes.

September elections are scheduled. He's undecided whether or not to participate. He doesn't have enough support to win.

He's no democrat. He's no populist. He's ideologically driven. He's very much right wing. In 1999, he joined the Yabloko party. It supports free-wheeling capitalism.

It supports neoliberal harshness. It benefits few at the expense of most others. In December 2011 elections, it fared poorly. It won few legislative seats. Since founded in 1993, it participated in six elections. It's best showing was 7.86% popular support. In 2011, it was 3.43%.

Claiming it's a "private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world" masks NED's true agenda.

It actively participated in US orchestrated "color revolutions." It did so in Georgia, Ukraine and elsewhere. It manipulated so-called "Arab Spring" rebellions. It helped create illusions of change.

It represents US imperial interests. Current board members include GlobalNet Partners John Bohn, notorious neocon Zalmay Khalizad, former right-wing congressman Vin Weber, former Bush II official/World Bank president Robert Zoellick, among others.

Earlier board members included Otto Reich, John Negroponte, Elliot Abrams, and General Wesley Clark.

Independent ones are targeted. Regime change is prioritized. Putin's Russia is deplored. He opposes US imperial rampaging. He's a thorn in America's side. He's independent. He doesn't roll over on demand.

According to Russia's Constitution, he's Russian Federation President, head of state, supreme commander-in-chief of defense as well as domestic and foreign policy.

He's scorned for standing up to its bullying. He's taking heat for Navalny's conviction. White House spokesman Jay Carney called it "politically motivated." He said it's part of a "disturbing trend" in Russia.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said "(w)e are very disappointed by (his) conviction and sentencingâ€¦."

US senators want him released. Senator Ben Cardin (D. MD) embarrassed himself. He did so shamelessly. He called Navalny "a man fighting to free the country he loves." (He) must be released free and unharmed."

Nor media scoundrels. They support the worst of Washington's crimes. They jumped on Navalny's conviction. They did so shamelessly. They didn't surprise.

New York Times editors headlined "Mr Putin Tries to Crush Another Rival."

They called him a "strong man." They've called him worse. He "actually seems weak and insecure," they added.

Charging and convicting Navalny "were a transparent retaliation for Mr. Navalny's campaign against public corruption and Mr. Putin's United Russia political machine as a party of 'swindlers and thieves.' "

"The process was politically rigged."

"It has long been clear that Mr. Putin, who honed his bullying instincts as a KGB officer, cannot tolerate challenge or even political debate."

If Russians "listen to Navalny," they'll get "a more democratic and equitable countryâ€¦."